Bolt making machine



Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES BOLT MAKING MACHINE William L; Clouse, Tiilln, hlo,- assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tiiiin, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application Mai 9, 1933, Serial No. 870,109

This invention relates to bolt making machines and the like of the type in which a blank is subjected to a plurality of successive operations at different stations or dies, as in the machine disclosed by the co-pending application ofEarl R. Frost, Serial No. 639,054, filed October 22, 1932, and is particularly concerned with a blank transfer mechanism for carrying the blanks from one station to another.

In machines of this general type, it is desirable to perform an operation upon a blank at each die station during each cycle of the machine, and to transfer each blank to the next successive station during the inoperative portion of the cycle, so as to produce a -completed blank during each cycle of the machine. The purpose of this arrangement is primarily to maintain the rate of production of completed blanks ashigh as possible with a minimum of intermediate handling. It is found, however, that in many instances the limiting factor on the speed of production of multistation machines of this type is the speed at which the blank transfer mechanism can be operated. The present invention embodies the inventions claimed broadly in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 670,107, filed May 9, 1933 and has for its principal object anarrangement of the parts so that each set of transfer fingers moves through a path forming a closed curve from one die station to another so that the fingers may grasp a blank at one station and release the same at the other. A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified movement and operating mechanism for blank transfer fingers so that the fingers move, in carrying a blank through a different path than that through which the fingers move when returning empty to receive another blank so that it is only necessary to arrange half of the cycle of movement of the blank transfer fingers in a path out of line with the header slide. An additional object of it is the provision of stop members for transfer mechanisms to positively stop the motion of'the fingers and align them with the dies, one of said members being movable and the other fixed relative to the dies. Another obi set is to provide a smooth, positive and relatively rapid movement for. the blank transfer mechanism permitting accurate alignment of the sets of fingers with the die stations, a simple and rugged driving mechanism, and relativelyrapid action with a minimum of strain on the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blanktransfer mechanism which may be easily moved as a unit clear of the dies whenever it is (Cl. 10l2) desired to gain access to the latter and subsequently returned to positive position without disassociating the parts or' affecting the timing of the mechanism with respect to the header slide. I v The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the forward extremity of a bolt making machine show- 10 mg the improved transfer mechanism of the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2--2'of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a detail view of a locking and indexing device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I have illustrated the invention in connection with a machine of the type shown in my aforesaid co-pending appiication. The numeral i designates a bed frame having at its forward extremity a die breast 6. I A header slide 1 is mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in the frame I and is provided with a plurality of punches 3, l and il adapted to cooperate with dies' II, I! and it in the breast plate 8. Considering the machine to be designed to carry out the process described in the above application, then the die i i would be an extrusion die into which thebolt blank is pressed by the punch I to reduce the diameter of the major por- 30 I tion of the blank; the die I! also an extrusion die for extruding the thread-receiving portion of the bolt shank, the co-operating punch being a heading tool which presses the blank into, the die and also upsets the previously unextruded portion to form a head; while the die "would be a liolding die which co-operates with the hollow trimming punch it which trims the upset heads of the blanks to the desired polygonal form.

-Wire or rod stock 8 is fed through suitable guides in the frame of the machine and engages an adiustable stock gauge ll. A cut-off arm I! ,of any desired type is arranged to engage the stock, shear ofl blanks of .the desired length and carry the same into alignment with the die ii. v

The arm may be rocked or reclprocated by any suitable means, not shown, and at its upperendmoves in a guide it.

' During each cycle of the machine, ann II is oscillated to shear oh 0. blank and carry the same so into alignment with the die ll during the time the header slide I is retracting and then returns to its initial or cut-oi! position to receive another blank while the slide is moving forward into engagement with the work.

It will be understood, or course, that any desired combination and types of punches and dies may be used as well as any desired type of cutoff means, the present improved transfer mechanism not being limited by the illustrated embodiment.

The transfer mechanism is arranged to carry blanks from the die II to the die I2, and from the die I2 to the die l3 in synchronism with the movement of the header slide.

The numerals I'I, Ila and I3, I in. designate co-acting sets of transfer fingers which are provided at their blank engaging ends with hardened wear plates I9, I3a, which are formed with recesses to receive a blank, and beveled end surfaces to permit the fingers to be forced open and snap over a bolt blank. Each pair or set of fingers is provided with a compression spring 20 mounted on a bolt or screw 2I, by means of which the fingers are maintained under proper tension. An abutment screw 22 is mounted in each finger I1, I 8 to accurately position the fingers laterally relative to each other, while each finger IIa, la is mounted on an eccentric stud 23 which may be adjusted angularly to accurately position the blank-gripping ends of the fingers relatively to the dies. 7

The co-acting pairs of fingers I1, Ila, and I8, I8a are pivotally anchored at their upper ends to a support or bracket 24 which is provided with bearing bosses 25 and 25a at opposite ends thereof. The bearing 25 is mounted on a crank arm, which in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of an eccentric connection by means of a pin 26 to a spider gear 21. The bearing 25a is similarly mounted on a crank arm with respect to the driving shaft 32,the two crank arms having the same throw and angular relation. As shown the bearing 25a is eccentrically connected by means of a pin 28 to a gear 29.

hub of the gear 29 and pin 28 is preferably reinforced by a link or web 34. The plate or bracket 3| is provided with hinge bearings 35 which are mounted on the shaft 32, and said plate is adapted to lie fiush against the bed frame 5 and, as

' shown, is secured in such position by a bolt 36.

It will be seen that by loosening this bolt, the plate 3| may be swung upwardly, carrying the transfer finger assembly and gears 21 and 30 therewith, the latter turning about the gear 29 and functioning as a planetary system during this movement.

Shaft 32 is intermittently driven in one direction by any convenient drive mechanism, which as illustrated is a Geneva gear.

A gear 31 is fixed to the end of shaft 32 and meshes with a gear 38 which is journalled to the frame and which in turn is driven by a Geneva gear 39. The latter is fixed on a shaft 40 journalled to the bed frame of the machine and driven from the main crank shaft of the machine in a fixed relation to the movement of the header slide. The intermittent drive may conveniently be obtained by straps 38a fixed in pairs to the rear face of the gear 38 and arranged to receive pins 331: mounted on the Geneva gear 39. In the arrangement shown there are six pairs of guides 38a and two diametrically opposed pins 38a so that each degrees of the movement of the shaft 40 turns the gear 33 through 60 degrees. Obviously any desired gear ratio may be selected, the sizes of the gears being coordinated with the Geneva drive so that the drive shaft 32 of the transfer mechanism turns through two half revolutions separated by two rest periods during each cycle of the movement of the header slide.

A locking and indexing mechanism may be associated with the Geneva drive to lock the parts against movement during the rest periods and accurately align the transfer fingers with the dies. As shown this arrangement consists of a series of tapered sockets 4| carried on the front face of the gear 38 and arranged to receive a tapered locking pin 42 slidably mounted in a bracket 43 on the bed frame. A spring 44 normally holds the pin 42 pressed toward the sockets H and an arm 45 driven .by a cam 46 secured to the shaft 40 is arranged to retract the pin 42 out of engagement with the sockets and hold it retracted during the time the gear 33 is being moved by one of the pins 39a. As the gear 33 comes to rest at the conclusion of one of the cycles of movement as illustrated in Figure 2, the cam 46 releases the arm 45 and allows the pin 42 to drop into one of the sockets and accurately center and lock the disc 38 until the other pin 38a. comes into engagement with a pair of guide strips 38a.

The header slide 1 which is driven by a crank from the main crank shaft of the machine moves forward into position to perform the desired operations upon the blanks held in the dies II, I2 and I3. As it recedes the cut-off arm I5 cuts off a length of stock and carries it over into alignment with the first die II. At the next stroke of the header slide the stock held in the die II is upset or acted upon in the desired manner. As the header slide begins to recede an ejector pin ejects the stock from the die I I. When the blank is partially ejectedthe fingers I1 and Ila move downwardly in an arcuate path toward the blank and snap over the blank while it is supported in the die. The transfer fingers then rest until the completion of the stroke of the ejector and until the header slide has receded far enough to completely release the blank. The transfer mechanism then starts the second part of its movement and the fingers I I and Ila move downwardly and to the right in a substantially semi-circular path and then upwardly into alignment with the opening in the die l2. At this point the movement of the transfer mechanism again ceases leaving the blank carried by'the fingers I1 and Ila aligned with the die I2. As the header slide moves forward it engages the blank held in the fingers and starts to press it into the die I2. After the blank has moved into the die I2 a sufficient distance to be firmly held, the transfer mechanism again moves causing the fingers I I and Ho to rise up and move to the left, snapping off the blank and clearing the punch carried by the header slide. While the header is acting upon the blank the fingers move to the left through their arcuate path above the punches carried by the header slide and again move downwardly and snap on to the next blank being ejected from the die I I when the header slide has moved back sufficiently. The fingers I8 and IBa transfer blanks from the die I2 to the die in exactly the same manner and at the shaft 32 and the center upon which the gear 21 is journalled. The two gears 21 and 2| are caused to move together by the intermediate idler gear and the intermittent motion is transmitted to the gear 2! through the shaft 32 by the Geneva gear 38 and 39. During one complete cycle of the motion of the transfer mechanism each pair of fingers describes a complete circle with two rest points in line with the two dies between which the fingers operate. The duration of the rest periods when the fingers are aligned with the dies is preferably 'made as short as possible in order to increase the time available for the movement of the fingers between the dies. The time during which the fingers are stationary when the blanks are being delivered to the dies l2 and i3 need be only sufilcient to permit the blanks to be pressed into the dies far enough to securely retain them so that the fingers can snap oi! the blanks and when the fingers are receiving the blanks at the opposite end of their stroke they need engage the blanks only sufficiently in advance of complete ejectionto insure the blanks being held in position while the fingers are pressed 7 apart and snap over them.

When it is desired to change, adjust or replace the dies ll, 12 or l3 they may be readily exposed and reached by releasing the bolt 36 and swinging the bracket 3| upwardly and to the left as seen in Figure 2 about the shaft 32 as an axis. The gear 38 being held stationary either by one of the pins 39a or the locking plunger 42, the gear 29 is likewise held stationary and the gear 30 and the gears 21 rotate about the gear 29. When the bracket is again returned to its normal position the gears 30 and 21 return to their initial positions so that the timing of the machine is not affected.

Although the preferred embodiment and operating mechanism is disclosed, it will be understood that the two crank arms upon which the opposite ends of the supporting plate are mounted may be maintained in synchronism by linkage instead of gears if desired and similarly that cams or any other suitable arrangement may be used to provide the intermittent drive in place of the Geneva gear. Numerous other modifications and re-arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a bolt making machine, in combination, a pair of dies to receive blanks, aheader slide coacting with said dies and carrying hammers to act upon the blanks held therein, means for cutting off lengths of continuous stock and carrying the same into alignment with the first of said dies and transfer mechanism for carrying blanks from the first die to the second including gripping fingers and means to move the same from one dieto the other and back to the first die through a path forming a closed curve.

2. In a heading machine, in combination, a pair of dies, a pair of reciprocating hammers co-operating with said dies to work upon blanks held therein, means for cutting off lengths of continuous stock and carrying the same into alignment with the first of said dies. and transfer mechanism for transferring lengths of stock from the first die to the second comprising gripping means driven in timed relation to the header slide and moving from the first die to the second through a curved path disposed on one side of a line connecting said dies and moving from the second die to the first onacurvedpathdisposedonthcothersideof said line.

3. In an upsetting and heading machine, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line, a reciprocating header slide carrying a plurality of hammers co-operating with said dies, means for cutting off lengths of continuous stock and carrying the same into alignment with the first of said dies and gripping means arranged to engage a blank ejected from. the first die, carry the same through an arcuate path disposed on one side of the line of said dies into alignment with the second die while the header slide is retracted. and move through a closed path disposed on the other side of said line of dies from the second die to the first die while the header slide is in engagement with the work.

4. In combination, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line and transfer mechanism for transferring blanks from'one die to another comprising a pair of, gripping fingers and means for moving said fingers through a closed circular path so that the ends of the fingers approach and snap over a blank ejected from one die andrecede from and snap of! of a blank carried thereby when the same has been engaged by the other die.

5. In an upsetting and heading machine, in combination, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line, a header slide carrying hammers co-operating with said dies and transfer mechanism comprising a supporting member disposed on one side of the line of dies and having r pping fingers projecting toward the dies. and means for simultaneously moving each end of said supporting member through a circular path to alternately align each set of fingers with one of two adjacent dies.

' 6. In an upsetting machine, in combination, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line, and transfer mechanism for transferring blanks from one die to another including a supporting member disposed on one side of the line of said dies, a pair of co-operating gripping fingers carried by said supporting member and projecting toward said dies, and means for moving said supporting member in a complete circular path to alternately align said fingers with two of said dies.

7. In an upsetting machine, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line, a supporting member disposed on one side of the line of said dies. a pair of crank arms iournalled to said supporting member at spaced points, gripping means carried by said supporting member and projecting toward said dies, and means for simultaneously rotating said crank arms in the same direction to move each of said spaced points on said supporting member through a complete circular path.

8. In an upsetting and heading machine, a pinrality of dies arranged in a straight line and transfer mechanism for moving a blank from one die to another comprising a supporting member having blank gripping means extending therefrom toward said dies, a pair of crank arms connected to said supporting member at spaced points, and

means for driving said transfer mechanism arranged to rotate each of said crank arms through a half revolution in the same direction to bring said blank gripping means into alignment with one of said dies, and stop the motion at such point and subsequently rotate said crank arms through another half revolution in the same direction to bring said gripping means into alignment with another of said dies.

9. In an upsetting machine, in combination, a plurality of dies arranged in a straight line, a header slide carrying hammers co-operating with said dies, means for cutting on lengths of continuous stock and carrying the same into alignment with the first of said dies, and transfer mechanism arranged to carry lengths of stock from the first die to the second and from the second to the third including a supporting member disposed at one side of the line of said dies and having gripping fingers projecting toward said dies, a pair of rotating members having eccentric connections with said supporting memher at spaced points and means driven in timed relation to said header slide to move said rotating members through a half revolution in the same direction and subsequently through another half revolution in the same direction with a rest period between the two movements to move the spaced points on saidsupporting member through complete circular paths.

10. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, a reciprocating header 'slidehaving a punch cooperating with each die, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies, co-acting sets of transfer fingers adapted to engage and releasably retain said blanks, a support for said fingers, and means for intermittently moving said support and fingers in a complete circular path in synchronism with the reciprocation of the header slide to effect transfer of bolt blanks from one die to another.

11. In a. bolt making machine, a bed. frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, a reciprocating header slide having a punch cooperating with each die, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies, coacting sets of transfer fingers adapted to engage and releasably retain said blanks, a support for said fingers, and means for moving said support and fingers in a 360 degree are in synchronism with the reciprocation of the header slide and for interrupting the movement at approximately each laildegrees of the are at points which bring the transfer fingers in blank gripping registration with the dies-to efiect transfer of bolt blanks from one die to another. v

12. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies, co-acting sets of transfer fingers pted to engage and releasably retain said blanks, a supporting frame on which said fingers are mounted, interconnected gears hav-, ing an eccentric pivotal connection with said frame, and means for intermittently driving said gears to move said fingers in an arcuate path into blank gripping registration with said dies and thereby effect transfer of bolt blanks from one die to another.

13. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a

plurality of aligned dies supported-by said frame,-

means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies, .co-acting sets of transfer fingers adapted to engage and reieasably retain said blanks, a supportin a e o w i i fingers are mounted, interconnected gears hav-' ing an eccentric pivotal connection with said frame,.and a drive member for said gears, said member being adapted to impart an intermittent approximately degrees rotation to said frame and fingers to effect transfer of bolt blanks from one die to another.

14. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies, co-acting sets of transfer fingers adapted to engage and releasably retain said blanks, a supporting frame on which said fingers are mounted, and means for imparting a rotary transfer movement to. said frame and fingers comprising a pair of gears to which said frame is eccentrically pivotally connected and an intermediate idler gear, a shaft on which one of said first-named gears is fixed, and an intermittent drive means for said shaft.

15. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks, a blank transfer assembly'com prising co-acting sets of transfer fingers adapted to engage and releasably retain said blanks and means for bodily actuating said fingers to effect transfer movements thereto, a drive shaft for said actuating means, and a support for said assembly having a hinge-like pivotal connection with said shaft and removably clamped to said frame whereby when it is desired to gain access to said dies the support may be released from the frame and together with said assembly swung back clear of the dies.

16. In a bolt making machine, a bed frame, a plurality of aligned dies supported by said frame, means for shearing stock into suitable lengths to form blanks and for carrying the blanks to the first of said dies; a blank-transfer assembly comprising co-acting sets of transfer fingers, a supporting frame for said fingers, a pair of gears to which said support is eccentrically and pivotally connected and an intermediate idler gear, a drive shaft for said gears and to which one of said gears is secured, and a bracket plate for supporting said assembly, said plate being pivotally connected to said shaft and clamped to said bed frame.

17. In a machine of the class described, a bed frame having a die breast with a plurality of dies mounted thereon, means for transfen'ing blanks from one die to another including a unit consisting of a carriage having a plurality of sets of transfer fingers pivotally connected thereto and mechanism for imparting transfer movements to said fingers, means for driving said mechanism, and a supporting bracket for said unit pivotally connected to said frame whereby when it is desired to gain access to said dies the unit as a whole may be swung back to clear the dies and adjacent parts, said driving means being arranged so that the unit may be swung back without disconnecting the actuating mechanism therefrom.

18. In a machine of the class specified, a bed frame having a die breast with a plurality of dies mounted thereon, means for transferring blanks from one die to another including a unit consisting of a carriage having mounted thereon a plurality of sets of transfer fingers and mechanism for imparting transfer movements to said fingers, means for driving said mechanism including a driving member located adjacent thereto and having a driving connection therewith, and a supporting member for said unit pivotally connected to said frame whereby when'it is desired to gain access to said dies the unit as a whole may be swung back to clear the dies and adjacent parts, said drive member being connected to said mechanism in a manner such that the unit may be swung back without breaking said driving connection.

19. In a machine of the class described, a bed frame having a die breast with a plurality of transversely aligned dies mounted thereon, means for transferring blanks from one'die to another including a unit consisting of a carriage having a plurality of sets of transfer fingers pivotally mounted thereon and mechanism for imparting transfer movements to said fingers, said mechanism including a drive gear, means for driving said mechanism including a main drive gear mounted 'adjacent to and constantly in mesh with said first-named gear, and a supporting bracket for said unit pivotally connected to said frame whereby when it is desired to gain access to said dies the unit as a whole may be swung back to clear the dies and adjacent parts, said gears being arranged so that the unit may be swung back and forth in an are without disconnecting the gears from one another.

20. In combination, a plurality of dies, reciprocating means for acting upon blanks held in said dies, and transfer for carryingblanks to each of said dies in sequence "comprising a support carrying sets of blank gripping ringers.

said support beingjournalled at spaced points upon eccentricaily rotatable members, means for turning said members to move each of said sets of blank gripping fingers from a position in alignment with one die to a position in alignment with the next adjacent die and inter-engaging wedging members for positively stopping'the movement of said blank g nnin fingers and aligning the same with said dies.

21. In combination. a plurality of dies, reciprocating means for acting upon blanks held in said.

dies, and transier mechanism for carrying blanks to each of said dies in sequence comprising a support carrying sets of blank grippin fingers,

said supp rt being journalled at spaced points upon eccentricaliy rotatable members, means for turning said members to move each of said sets of blank gripping fingers from a position in alignment with one die to a position in alignment with the next adjacent die, a means to stop and align said blank g pp fingers comprising a cone shaped member and a cone receiving member, one of said members fixed with respect to said dies and the other of said members movable with said blank gripping fingers.

WILLIAM L. CLOUSE. 

